ISPs forced to join child porn crackdown

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Internet service providers (ISPs) will face fines of up to
$55,000 if they can be used to access child pornography and do not
refer the information to the police.

Justice Minister Chris Ellison said today ISPs and internet
content hosts (ICHs) would have strict obligations to report online
child pornography to the Australian Federal Police from March
1.

"It cannot be emphasised enough that behind every horrid piece
of child pornography is a tragic case of an abused defenceless
child, somewhere in the world," Senator Ellison said.

Under the new laws, an ISP or ICH will face penalties of $11,000
for the individual and $55,000 for body corporates if they are made
aware that their service can be used to access material that they
have reasonable grounds to believe is child pornography or child
abuse material and they do not refer details of that material to
the AFP within a reasonable time.

It will also be a federal offence, carrying a penalty of 10
years' jail, for a person to use the internet to access, transmit
or make available child pornography or child abuse material.

This is on top of the current state and territory penalties.

Senator Ellison said it was hoped that internet providers would
work closely with the AFP's online child exploitation team and the
Australian High Tech Crime Centre to crack down on child
exploitation and pedophile networks.

The AFP last month announced it was also taking part in an
international task force to prevent online child abuse.